Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1887-01-14

ness men, arrived home only in time 10 dress
for dinner. His heart was 50 full Of aiiec-
Tomato welcome for his niece whom NE re
nembered as a beautiful child Of ten only
half dozen years ago, that he did not at
first note anything but the lovely uplitted
eyes aud the aifectunate voice
As the dinner progressed, even unob-
servant MIR. Bent became aware that his
niecc's attire was not what it should be,
and that her voice was too loud "But the
women folks can soon straighten that all
ont, aud the child's as pretty as picture. "
So also thought the Hon Mr.. Morris. who.
to Carries vexatiOn on being told 10y her
that the yoang lady in white was a cousin,
who had arrived most inopportunely from
Kansas, had exclaimed from Kansas ,
How delighted am That is the state Of
all others | am most interested in seeing. |
am going out there in the spring"
''lf all the Kansas ladies have so won
derful Il complexion your cousin, that is
another reason for visiting the region.
Pray present me 10 her, will you should
like to osk her many questions. Perhaps,
an he stammered with the curious mix
. ture of difiidence and audacity one often
sees in Englishmen, perhaps your mother
viii be so very good as TO let me have the
pleasure of sitting by her side at dinner
that is, if it will not disarrange your plans. -
Il am sure mamma will not relnquish the
pleasure Of having you chiefly to herself at
dinner quickly responded Carrie, her
heart full Of anger and modification. New
ertheless several times i'm course Of the
dinner Mr.. Morris heard the shrill voice
and thought to himself, What a pity the
Americans voice is pitched so high"
When the gentlemen joined the ladies in
| the drawing Mr.. Morris looked eager
y for the Kansas cousin Not seeing her,
he accosted Mrs Bent with true English
bluffness. II do not see your niece from
Kansas | hope she has not gone | was
counting ON talking with her all the rest of
the evening.
With mingled resentment and confusion,
Mrs. Bent replied my niece went up
stairs Immediately after dinner"
In truth Mrs. Bent was in a state Of
nervous bewilderment. Without for a mo-
ment suspecting the real reason of Pinkie s
/ withdrawal. she had perceived that the
| girl was greatly moved as she came swiftly
/ to her when they were entering the draw
/ ing room.
Aunt, must ask you to excuse me. |
| am going up stairs to change my dress
was not dressed as | should have been
Never mind child. never mind
/ Pinkie was gone.
/ 1t did not take long for her to finish her
/ Transformation touches. The dainty white
/ surah silk. with billowy reaches of white
lace from belt to hem, the soft clinging
/ gloves to the shoulders, the opal bracelets.
/ the white ostrich feather fan, the white
satin ,ppers-all were in readiness But
at last Pinkie's heart failed her
1t was shameful trick to play on them.
! shall cry | know | shall, and I'd rather
die than cry before that Englishman.'
At last she stole down slowly, hesitating-
ly. Black Ben caught sight Of her first and
Ieeled back with excitement.
1t WAS an unerring instinct that led Pink
ic ON entering the drawing room to glide
swiftly to her unce's side, and putting both
hands into his, say:
Dear Uncle Silas, won't you make my
peace with aunt, and ask your friends here
to forgive me for incorporating at youl
dinner 20
81 ask them all to forgive me for kissing
YOU, ho said a capital Joke, Pnkie.'
The best bit of acting ever saw, cried
Hon. Mr.. Morris quite clever; very neat
Upon my word, though do not think now
really, Miss Bent. | should not have seeI
through it | don't think yuu could have
deceived me-
Il should not have tried, " replied Pinkie
very simply Yet there was certain in
defmnble something in tone which made tn,
Hon. Mr.. Morris change color.
There are no words in which to describe
the embarrassment of Mrs. Bent and hel
daughters.
Had Pinkie overheard what they sale
about her
They sounded her As far as they dared
But they never found her out
To only one person did Pinkie ever tel
the whole That was to the Hon. Mr.. Nor
ris after she had been for some weeks hi
wife
Il thought it was so unjust in them
Frank, she said, 50 cruel, I'd just Civ,
them lesson and let them see that man
ners may be only skin deep-easily put OF
or off But I'd never have done it, Frank
if Id seen you frst-never. | wanted t
run out Of the room as soon as | saw yol
look at me
You needn't have done So, replied Hon
Mr.. Morris, 'for | thought as soon as III.
eyes fell on you that | had never seen St
lovely face before
Did YOU really :" asked Pinkie.
Really answered the Hon. Mr. Nor
ris.-MiS. Helen Hunt Jackson.